Psalm 119:41-48 ו

ו Waw

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;
then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
    for I have put my hope in your laws.
I will always obey your law,
    for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.
I will speak of your statutes before kings
    and will not be put to shame,
for I delight in your commands
    because I love them.
I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate on your decrees.

• Psalm 119:41-48

Type of Psalm

Didactic psalms: These psalms are psalms that are intended to teach.  In most cases the psalm instructs us in moral principles.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“This is a psalm by itself, like none of the rest; it excels them all, and shines brightest in this constellation. It is much longer than any of them more than twice as long as any of them. It is not making long prayers that Christ censurers, but making them for a pretence, which intimates that they are in themselves good and commendable. It seems to me to be a collection of David’s pious and devout ejaculations, the short and sudden breathings and elevations of his soul to God, which he wrote down as they occurred, and, towards the latter end of his time, gathered out of his day-book where they lay scattered, added to them many like words, and digested them into this psalm, in which there is seldom any coherence between the verses, but, like Solomon’s proverbs, it is a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links. And we may not only learn, by the psalmist’s example, to accustom ourselves to such pious ejaculations, which are an excellent means of maintaining constant communion with God, and keeping the heart in frame for the more solemn exercises of religion, but we must make use of the psalmist’s words, both for the exciting and for the expressing of our devout affections; what some have said of this psalm is true, “He that shall read it considerately, it will either warm him or shame him.” The composition of it is singular and very exact. It is divided into twenty-two parts, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each part consists of eight verses, all the verses of the first part beginning with Aleph, all the verses of the second with Beth, and so on, without any flaw throughout the whole psalm. Archbishop Tillotson says, It seems to have more of poetical skill and number in it than we at this distance can easily understand. Some have called it the saints’ alphabet; and it were to be wished we had it as ready in our memories as the very letters of our alphabet, as ready as our A B C. Perhaps the penman found it of use to himself to observe this method, as it obliged him to seek for thoughts, and search for them, that he might fill up the quota of every part; and the letter he was to begin with might lead him to a word which might suggest a good sentence; and all little enough to raise any thing that is good in the barren soil of our hearts. However, it would be of use to the learners, a help to them both in committing it to memory and in calling it to mind upon occasion; by the letter the first word would be got, and that would bring in the whole verse; thus young people would the more easily learn it by heart and retain it the better even in old age. If any censure it as childish and trifling, because acrostics are now quite out of fashion, let them know that the royal psalmist despises their censure; he is a teacher of babes, and, if this method may be beneficial to them, he can easily stoop to it; if this to be vile, he will be yet more vile.

II. The general scope and design of it is to magnify the law, and make it honourable; to set forth the excellency and usefulness of divine revelation, and to recommend it to us, not only for the entertainment, but for the government, of ourselves, by the psalmist’s own example, who speaks by experience of the benefit of it, and of the good impressions made upon him by it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays, from first to last, for the continuance of God’s grace with him, to direct and quicken him in the way of his duty. There are ten different words by which divine revelation is called in this psalm, and they are synonymous, each of them expressive of the whole compass of it (both that which tells us what God expects from us and that which tells us that we may expect from him) and of the system of religion which is founded upon it and guided by it. The things contained in the scripture, and drawn from it, are here called, 1. God’s law, because they are enacted by him as our Sovereign. 2. His way, because they are the rule both of his providence and of our obedience. 3. His testimonies, because they are solemnly declared to the world and attested beyond contradiction. 4. His commandments, because given with authority, and (as the word signifies) lodged with us as a trust. 5. His precepts, because prescribed to us and not left indifferent. 6. His word, or saying, because it is the declaration of his mind, and Christ, the essential eternal Word, is all in all in it. 7. His judgments, because framed in infinite wisdom, and because by them we must both judge and be judged. 8. His righteousness, because it is all holy, just, and good, and the rule and standard of righteousness. 9. His statutes, because they are fixed and determined, and of perpetual obligation. His truth, or faithfulness, because the principles upon which the divine law is built are eternal truths. And I think there is but one verse (it is ver. 122) in all this long psalm in which there is not one or other of these ten words; only in three or four they are used concerning God’s providence or David’s practice (as ver. 75, 84, 122), and ver. 132 they are called God’s name. The great esteem and affection David had for the word of God is the more admirable considering how little he had of it, in comparison with what we have, no more perhaps in writing than the first books of Moses, which were but the dawning of this day, which may shame us who enjoy the full discoveries of divine revelation and yet are so cold towards it. In singing this psalm there is work for all the devout affections of a sanctified soul, so copious, so various, is the matter of it. We here find that in which we must give glory to God both as our ruler and great benefactor, that in which we are to teach and admonish ourselves and one another (so many are the instructions which we here find about a religious life), and that in which we are to comfort and encourage ourselves and one another, so many are the sweet experiences of one that lived such a life. Here is something or other to suit the case of every Christian. Isa. any afflicted? Isa. any merry? Each will find that here which is proper for him. And it is so far from being a tedious repetition of the same thing, as may seem to those who look over it cursorily, that, if we duly meditate upon it, we shall find almost every verse has a new thought and something in it very lively. And this, as many other of David’s psalms, teaches us to be sententious in our devotions, both alone and when others join with us; for, ordinarily, the affections, especially of weaker Christians, are more likely to be raised and kept by short expressions, the sense of which lies in a little compass, than by long and laboured periods.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 119:47 “I want to encourage those of you who have become rather concerned about the fine print of your life.  I want to commend you for that.  You are the ones who make godly roommates and godly wives and godly workmen and godly pastors and godly musicians and godly professionals.  You care enough about your life that regardless of your occupation, when you hear something declared from Scripture, you’re thinking, How can I get that into my life?  Good for you!”

• Charles R. Swindoll, Bedtime Blessings

My Thoughts

This psalm is not attributed to any author.

These verses start with Waw, ו.

The psalmist starts with praises to God.  His points are nearly bullet points: Unfailing love, salvation, and God’s trustworthiness.  The psalmist never wants God’s truth to leave his mouth, for in it he finds hope and he wishes to always keep God’s law.

The New Testament talks about the truth setting us free, but the secular world sees Christians as being in bondage due to God’s law being restrictive.  But in the end, we find that breaking God’s law puts us into bondage and we are free from the law, due to Jesus washing away our sins.  Yet, we try to follow the law due to our love for God, and in many cases, we know the ill side effects of those sins.  This is refreshing to find an Old Testament reference to having freedom in abiding in God’s law and His precepts.

The psalmist reaches out for God’s law so that he can better keep God’s commands.

Psalm 119:49-56 ז

ז Zayin

Remember your word to your servant,
    for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this:
    Your promise preserves my life.
The arrogant mock me unmercifully,
    but I do not turn from your law.
I remember, Lord, your ancient laws,
    and I find comfort in them.
Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
    who have forsaken your law.
Your decrees are the theme of my song
    wherever I lodge.
In the night, Lord, I remember your name,
    that I may keep your law.
This has been my practice:
    I obey your precepts.

• Psalm 119:49-56

Type of Psalm

Didactic psalms: These psalms are psalms that are intended to teach.  In most cases the psalm instructs us in moral principles.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

• See Psalm 119:41-48 ו. above.

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 119:49-56 ”The hope from God’s word. In spite of the affliction and ridicule he was experiencing, the psalmist had received hope through God’s word (119:49-51). This gave him tremendous comfort and freedom (11:50), which further motivated him to obey [God’s] precepts (119:52, 56). Biblical hope is not mere wishful thinking. It is a confident expectation about the future based on the character of God and his promises.”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

My Thoughts

This psalm is not attributed to any author.

These verses start with Zayin, ז.

Zayin focuses on hope.  The psalmist is suffering, and he finds hope in his suffering.  God’s promises are perfect.  If we focus on hope and obedience, God will rescue us from our suffering.

The arrogant, who ignore God mock the psalmist for being faithful to God.  The psalmist has indignation for the wicked who have forsaken God’s law.

The practice of the psalmist is to sing a song of God’s law.  This keeps God’s precepts in his heart.  As a result, he remembers God’s name.

Psalm 119:57-64 ח

ח Heth

You are my portion, Lord;
    I have promised to obey your words.
I have sought your face with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.
I have considered my ways
    and have turned my steps to your statutes.
I will hasten and not delay
    to obey your commands.
Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
    I will not forget your law.
At midnight I rise to give you thanks
    for your righteous laws.
I am a friend to all who fear you,
    to all who follow your precepts.
The earth is filled with your love, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.

• Psalm 119:57-64

Type of Psalm

Didactic psalms: These psalms are psalms that are intended to teach.  In most cases the psalm instructs us in moral principles.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

• See Psalm 119:41-48 ו. above.

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 119:57-64 “The obedience to God’s word. The psalmist was surrounded by wickedness, as if ropes were wrapped around him (119:61). Nevertheless, he was committed to keeping the Lord’s words and commands (119:57, 60). Obedience was a priority. His gratefulness for Scripture was so profound that he woke at midnight to thank God for it (119:62). Whom did the psalmist befriend? All who fear God and keep his precepts (119:63).”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

My Thoughts

This psalm is not attributed to any author.

These verses start with Heth, ח.  Some translations spell this letter as Cheth, probably due to the pronunciation.

The psalmist now focuses on obedience.

I have often written about the key to obedience and Christian growth is keeping our eyes on Jesus, and this concept is mentioned in Psalm 119:58.  The psalmist looks with his heart, or you could say that the psalmist desires that face-to-face contact with God.

All my life, I have heard people talk about the narrow path, a journey of faith, and slipping off that path.  Psalm 119:59 speaks of getting the psalmist’s steps on God’s path.

The wicked might bind him with ropes, but he will not forget nor will he forsake God’s law.

At midnight, the psalmist sings songs of thanksgiving for God’s law.  The earth is full of God’s love.

Please, Lord, teach me your decrees.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

Psalm 119:41-48 ו

“1. What 8 ‘W-words’ describe your group’s opinion of Bible study?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 119:49-56 ז

“1. What 8 ‘Z-words’ describe your group’s opinion of Bible study?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 119:57-64 ח

“1. What 8 ‘CH-words’ describe your group’s opinion of Bible study?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

There is one set of questions for each of these psalms.  It is the same question, but who among you is the poet who can spin those 8 words into a story of how wonderful our God is?

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.